Section A.1. Installation on a New (Clean) System

A.1. Installation on a New (Clean) System

The Windows XP installation CD is bootable, which means that ( assuming your PC supports bootable CDs) you can put it in the drive, turn on your computer, and the installation process will start automatically.

To configure your computer to boot off a CD, you'll need to use your system's BIOS setup utility. When you first power on your machine, you'll see a text screen with a summary of your motherboard, processor, and installed memory. (If you see only a logo, try pressing the Esc or Tab keys.) Here, you typically press F2, Del, or some other key combination to "Enter Setup." (Refer to your PC's documentation for specifics.) Once you've entered the BIOS setup utility, go to the boot section, and change the "boot device priority" or "boot sequence" so that your CD drive appears before your hard disk. Exit the BIOS setup screen when you're finished.

If you have a SCSI-based CD drive, look in your SCSI controller's BIOS setup screen and enable support for bootable CDs. If your SCSI controller is built into your motherboard, you'll probably need to both specify your SCSI controller as a boot priority over your hard disk, and enable bootable CDs in your SCSI BIOS.

If you're unable to boot off the Windows XP CD, you'll need to use a bootable floppy, either one made from a previous version of Windows (see Section A.1.2 later), or one that comes with the full version of Windows XP.

After a lengthy initialization process, you'll finally be presented with several choices. The first screen instructs you to press Enter to set up Windows XP now, or press R to repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console. The Recovery Console, covered later in this appendix, is an advanced diagnostic and repair tool. Unless you specifically need to use the Recovery Console, press Enter to continue (even if you need to repair Windows).

At this point, setup will look for an existing Windows XP installation. If found, you'll have the opportunity to repair it now, which is usually preferred over using the Recovery Console. The repair process essentially involves reinstalling Windows XP, and is what you'll want to do if you're unable to start Windows. If you don't need to repair Windows XP, press Esc to continue.

The next screen will allow you to choose a drive and partition on which to install Windows; in most cases, you'll have only a single drive and a single partition. Here, you'll have the option of installing onto an existing drive or making changes to your partition table. This effectively replaces the FDISK utility used when installing some earlier versions of Windows on a clean system. To partition your hard disk after you've installed Windows XP, use PartitionMagic (http://www.powerquest.com). It's important to note that if you delete a partition that has data on it, all of the data will be erased.

If you're installing on a clean system (with a new, empty hard disk), you'll want to create a new partition using all of the available space (or several partitions, as desired). In most cases, you'll want to choose the NTFS filesystem, which is more robust and secure than the now-obsolete FAT32 filesystem. NTFS also supports encryption, compression, and permissions. Use FAT32 only if you need to share data with a Windows Me/9x installation.

If you're installing on a hard disk with data on it, and you don't want to erase the data, simply select the desired partition (usually the first one, C:\ ). Note that if you've backed up your data, you have the option of deleting your partition, creating a new one, and installing fresh. Although this does require the additional work involved in restoring your data, it does result in a cleaner, usually faster, and more reliable installation.

The rest of the installation process should be fairly straightforward; if you run into a problem, see Section A.1.5, later in this appendix.

A.1.1. Upgrade from a Previous Version of Windows

The preferred way to upgrade Windows XP from a previous version is to install from within Windows. With Windows running, insert the Windows XP CD into your drive. If you have AutoPlay disabled, or Setup doesn't start automatically for some reason, open Windows Explorer, navigate to your CD drive, and double-click setup.exe . When Setup starts, you'll be given four choices, as shown in Figure A-1.

Figure A-1. Setup options for the Windows XP upgrade

Install Windows XP

This opens the main Windows Setup program. When it starts, your first choice will be between "Upgrade (Recommended)" and "New Installation (Advanced)." Choose Upgrade only if you want to install Windows XP over your existing installation, replacing your current OS with Windows XP and migrating all your settings and applications in one step.

On the other hand, you may wish to choose New Installation if you want to set up a dual-boot system (discussed later in this appendix), or if you want to install on another partition or on a clean hard disk (see Section A.1, earlier in this appendix).

Install optional Windows components

This is the same as going to Control Panel Add or Remove Programs Add/Remove Windows Components. Place a checkmark next to components you want installed, or clear the checkmark next to components you want removed.

Perform additional tasks

This page contains links to several, mostly self-explanatory, tasks. Click "Set up Remote Desktop Connection" to install the Remote Desktop Connection software on another computer; see "Remote Desktop Connection" in Chapter 4 for details. Click "Set up a home or small office network" to run the Network Setup Wizard, also discussed in Chapter 4. Finally, click "Transfer files and settings" to run the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, additionally discussed in Chapter 4.

Check system compatibility

This runs the Microsoft Windows Upgrade Advisor, which looks for potential problems, such as incompatible software and hardware. The Upgrade Advisor is also run automatically at Windows setup. When the Upgrade Advisor finds a potential incompatibility , it lists it in a report along with any available information.

The report contains two types of alerts: if an alert is marked with a red circle and an X, it's a critical problem that will prevent setup from completing. These items, typically incompatible software, must be dealt with before setup will continue. The other type of alert is marked with a yellow triangle that, while not requiring immediate attention, should be resolved soon. See Appendix B for additional issues.

The rest of the installation process should be fairly straightforward. If you run into a problem, see Section A.1.5, later in this appendix.

A.1.2. Installation from DOS (or a Windows 9x/Me Boot Disk)

DOS (Disk Operating System) is the now-obsolete, command-line based operating system upon which Windows 9x and Windows Me were based. If you need to install Windows XP on a new system, and you are unable to boot off the CD, you can optionally install from DOS. Start by creating a boot disk by going to Control Panel Add/Remove Programs in Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me. Then, insert the floppy in your A: drive, and power on your computer. If it's a Windows 98 or Windows Me floppy, it should contain all the necessary drivers for your CD drive; otherwise , you'll need to obtain DOS drivers from the manufacturer of your CD drive and install them according to the included instructions.

When you get to the DOS prompt ( A:\> ), change to your CD drive by typing D : or E : (depending on the letter with which the drive is installed), and then type \i386\winnt.exe to start the DOS-based setup utility. The setup utility will copy the necessary boot files to your hard disk, reboot your computer, and run the same installer discussed in Section A.1, earlier in this appendix.

A.1.3. Setting Up a Dual-Boot System

Windows XP has built-in support for a dual-boot system. With a dual-boot (or multiboot) setup, you can install multiple operating systems side-by-side, and choose which one to use every time you start your computer.

Why would you want to do this? If you rely on some software or hardware that will not operate in Windows XP, you may wish to keep your old OS around until another solution is found. Or, you may wish to set up a dual-boot with Windows XP if you're not certain if XP will meet your needs. That way, you won't have to commit your system to XP until you're sure it will do everything you need it to do.

The dual-boot feature (called the Boot Manager) is installed automatically when you install Windows XP. If, at the end of the installation, Windows XP is the only operating system on your computer, it will boot automatically without giving you a choice. Otherwise, you'll see a menu of installed operating systems, from which you can choose the OS for the current session.

So, if you're installing Windows XP on a system with another OS, such as Windows 9x/Me, Windows 2000/NT, Unix, Linux, FreeBSD, or even NeXT, and you don't replace it with Windows XP (instead, you choose a new installation in a different directory or partition), you'll get a dual-boot system without even trying.

The boot manager of the last operating system installed is the one that will be used. Some other operating systems, such as FreeBSD and Windows 2000, also have boot managers, and they can be installed at any time (before or after XP). If, however, you want to set up a dual-boot system with, say, Windows XP and Windows 98, you'll need to install Windows 98 first, as neither Windows 9x nor Windows Me have boot managers.

One word about the filesystem: Windows XP supports both the NTFS and FAT32 filesystems. If you need to set up a dual-boot machine with Windows 9x/Me and Windows XP, you'll need to use FAT32 on any drives that you want to access from the older Windows, as only Windows 2000, NT, and XP support NTFS.

A.1.4. Re-Installation over an Existing Windows XP Install

You may find yourself in a position in which you'll need to reinstall Windows XP, either to solve a configuration problem or to repair a damaged installation. The procedure you choose depends on the current state of your computer.

If you're able to start Windows, you'll definitely want to install from within Windows. See Section A.1.1, earlier in this appendix, for details.

Otherwise, you'll need to repair your current installation by installing from the bootable CD (see Section A.1, earlier in this appendix) or by using the Recovery Console (discussed later).

A.1.5. Potential Problems During Setup

Fully documenting all of the problems that could occur during the installation of Windows XP would require a book ten times the size of this one. Luckily, about 95 percnet of the problems you're likely to encounter can be covered by the following tips:

• The most common thing that will cause a failed installation of Windows XP is an out-of-date BIOS. Fortunately, nearly all motherboards made in the last decade have software-upgradable flash BIOSes. Contact the manufacturer of your system or motherboard for any BIOS updates they have available, but don't bother unless a BIOS upgrade is absolutely necessary. (A failed BIOS upgrade will make your motherboard unusable.)

• Next to an incompatible BIOS, the most common stumbling block to Windows XP setup is your video card (display adapter). If setup stops with an unintelligible error message, hangs at a blank screen, or reboots unexpectedly during setup, your video card may be at fault. If replacing the video card permits Windows XP to install, your video card should be discarded (no pun intended). Note that many video cards have upgradable flash BIOSes (like your motherboard), although I've never seen an instance where a BIOS upgrade can solve this type of incompatibility.

• Windows XP is a little more touchy about improper hardware configurations than previous versions of Windows. If, for example, your memory (RAM) is not all the same rated speed, is not the correct type for your motherboard, or is malfunctioning in some way, it will prevent Windows XP from installing or running. Other potential problems include insufficient processor cooling, incorrect SCSI termination, improper jumpers on your IDE devices, bad cables, and even an older power supply.

• Windows XP attempts to install drivers for all of the hardware on your computer. If Setup crashes at the same point each time (towards the end of the process), try removing all extraneous devices (unneeded drives, cards, and external peripherals) until setup is complete.

• See Appendix B for additional tips involving hardware and software that will need to be updated or removed before you install Windows XP.

A.1.6. The Windows Recovery Console

Among the growing pains that many users will experience when upgrading to Windows XP is the complete abandonment of DOS. Now, don't get me wrongI'm as happy to see DOS disappear as anyone else, but DOS has always been the reliable and easy-to-use last resort for repairing a Windows 9x/Me system. In Windows XP, you can't boot into DOS because DOS isn't there. And if you're using the NTFS filesystem (recommended for most users), you won't be able to see your hard disk at all if you boot off a DOS diskette.

Enter the Windows XP Recovery Console, the command-line based troubleshooting and repair utility for Windows XP. Although it looks like DOS (and the Command Prompt in Windows XP; see Chapter 6), some of the familiar Command Prompt commands will not work, nor will you be able to start any DOS or Windows programs. Instead, a small set of commands is used to accomplish the following tasks:

• Copy, rename, delete, or replace operating system files.

• Enable or disable services or devices for the next time Windows is started.

• Repair the filesystem boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR).

• Create and format hard drive partitions.

There are two ways to start the Windows Recovery Console. If you start Windows XP setup by booting off the CD, as described at the beginning of this appendix, you'll be given an option to load the Recovery Console. Since it's use is rather limited, this option is probably suitable for most users.

The alternative is to install the Recovery Console on your hard disk. This option, which will add it to the Boot Manager menu (see Section A.1.3, earlier in this appendix), is useful if you find that you need the Recovery Console frequently or you're unable to boot off a CD. Go to Start Run and type the following:

   d:   \i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons 

where d: is the drive letter of your CD drive.

Using either method, once you boot to the Recovery Console, you'll get the following message:

 Windows NT(TM) Boot Console Command Interpreter. WARNING: This is a limited function command prompt intended only as a system  recovery utility for advanced users. Using this utility incorrectly  can cause serious system-wide problems that may require you to  reinstall Windows to correct them. Type 'exit' to leave the command prompt and reboot the system. 1: C:\WINDOWS Which Windows installation would you like to logon to (enter to abort)? 

Your options may be different. Choose 1, or whatever number corresponds to the Windows installation you wish to repair, and log in using your Administrator account and password. Once you've logged in, you'll see a Command Prompt-style interface, with which the following commands can be used. Note that although similar to their Command Prompt counterparts, the commands listed here are typically more limited, so not all parameters documented elsewhere in this book will be applicable in the Recovery Console.

attrib [+r-r] [+a-a] [+s-s] [+h-h] [ filename ]

Changes the attributes of a file or directory; see "Attrib" in Chapter 4. The /s and /d parameters documented in Chapter 4 are not supported here.

batch filename [ outputfile ]

Runs a batch file (see Section 6.5 in Chapter 6), where filename is the name of the batch file to run, and outputfile is the name of an optional file into which the output from the job is stored. Note that you can't execute batch files simply by typing the filename, as you can in the true Command Prompt.

bootcfg / command

Starts the Boot Manager configuration file ( boot.ini ) configuration and recovery. command can be any of the following:

add

Add a Windows installation as a new entry.

copy

Create a backup of the boot.ini configuration file.

default

Set the default boot entry.

disableredirect

Disable redirection instigated by redirect .

list

Display the entries currently specified in boot.ini .

rebuild

List all of the Windows installations, and rebuild the boot menu by selectively adding entries. Note: it is recommended that you use bootcfg/copy to backup boot.ini before using rebuild .

redirect [ port baudrate useBiosSettings]

Enable redirection of the boot loader output to the specified serial port, using the specified baudrate. Alternately, specify bootcfg /redirect useBiosSettings to use the default COM port settings in the system bios.

scan

Scan your hard disk for all Windows installations and display a list of the results.

cd (or chdir) [ directory ]

Displays the name of the current directory or changes the current directory; see "cd or chdir" in Chapter 6.

chkdsk [/p] [/r]

Checks a disk and displays a status report; see "Chkdsk" in Chapter 4.

cls

Clears the screen; see "cls" in Chapter 6.

copy source [ destination ]

Copies a single file to another location; see "copy" in Chapter 6.

del (or delete) filename

Deletes one or more files; see "del or erase" in Chapter 6.

dir filename

Displays a list of files and subdirectories in a directory; see "dir" in Chapter 6.

disable [ service device_driver ]

Disables a system service or a device driver. See enable for details.

diskpart [/add /delete] [ device drive partition ] [ size ]

Creates and deletes partitions on your hard drives. ^[2] Omits all parameters to use the interactive mode. Here's an example of creating a partition by specifying device ( size is the size of the partition to create, in megabytes):

^[2] This takes the place of FDISK, found in some earlier versions of Windows.

 diskpart /add \Device\HardDisk0 1500 

Uses the map command to display all device s. Here's an example of deleting a partition, either by specifying drive or by specifying partition (respectively):

 diskpart /delete g: diskpart /delete \Device\HardDisk0\Partition3 

enable service device_driver [ startup_type ]

Starts or enables a system service or a device driver. Available services and device drivers are listed with the listsvc command. startup_type can be SERVICE_BOOT_START , SERVICE_SYSTEM_START , SERVICE_AUTO_START , or SERVICE_DEMAND_START .

exit

Exits the Recovery Console and restarts your computer.

expand source [/f : filename ] [ destination ] [/d] [/y]

Extracts a file from a compressed file; see "File Expansion Utility" in Chapter 4.

fixboot [ drive ]

Writes a new partition boot sector onto the specified partition, in which drive is the drive letter. Omit drive to use the current partition. Use this command if the partition boot sector has been damaged.

fixmbr [ device ]

Repairs the master boot record of the specified disk. Use the map command to display the entries for device . Omit device to use the default boot device, upon which your primary operating system is installed. Use this if the boot record has been damaged, typically by a virus or a failed installation of another operating system.

format [ drive :] [/q] [/fs : filesystem ]

Formats a disk; see "Format" in Chapter 4.

help

Displays a list of the commands you can use in the Recovery Console.

listsvc

Lists the services and drivers available on the computer, for use with enable and disable .

logon

Logs on to a Windows installation. Note that only an administrator can use the Recovery Console. Use logon to log onto a different Windows installation without having to reboot and re-enter the Recovery Console.

map

Displays the drive letter mappings, for use with several other commands listed here.

md (or mkdir) directory

Creates a directory; see "md or mkdir" in Chapter 6.

more filename

Displays a text file (similar to type ) one page at a time; see "more" in Chapter 6.

net use [ share_path [/ user : user ] password ] [ drive :] [/d]

Connects an unused drive letter, drive , to a shared network folder, share_path . See "Net" in Chapter 4 and Section 7.2.2.1 in Chapter 7.

ren (or rename) filename1 filename2

Renames a single file (wildcards * and ? are not supported here); see "ren or rename" in Chapter 6.

rd (or rmdir) directory

Deletes a directory; see "rd or rmdir" in Chapter 6.

set [ variable =[ string ]]

Displays and sets environment variables . Although it works much like the set command discussed in Chapter 6, it allows you to display or modify only these four environment variables (the default for all four is False):

 AllowWildCards = True  False 

Turn this on to allow wildcards in commands that support them, such as del and copy .

 AllowAllPaths = True  False 

Turn this on to permit access to all directories, not just the Windows directory.

 AllowRemovableMedia = True  False 

Turn this on to permit access to removable drives, such as CDs and floppies.

 NoCopyPrompt = True  False 

Turn this on to disable the copy overwrite prompt.

systemroot

Changes the current directory (like cd ) to the "systemroot" directory, typically c:\windows , of the operating system to which you are currently logged on.

type filename

Displays a text file (similar to more ); see "type" in Chapter 6.